Editorial Blithers
First apologies and thanks to the ASU student who volunteered to be a Reviewer. Somehow your email got misplaced. Please email me again at rough_draft@zorntech.com and we'll greatfully add you to the team. Dr. Stone sent a broadcast email to the Tech Comm students
Recently, I've been thinking about mentoring. For those of use who've been in the workplace for a while, we've been mentored and, in turn, mentored others. The Phoenix community started mentoring programs several times, but never seems to make it an on-going program. The question is why can't we?
One answer may be that we have more members over 35 than under. Understandably, young people are concerned with new marriages and families, establishing a career, and getting on with life. Ergo, no time or interest in STC.
Another answer may be that many of our members don't attend monthly meetings. Certainly we'd like to see you, but there are many reasons given for not attending regularly. And, those who do attend may not need mentoring.
The future of our profession and our organization depends on building our membership and mentoring those who will follow in our footsteps. This month's meeting is one way to share our expertise and wisdom with others, old and new to the profession.
Friday lunch at the conference last November offered networking and discussion opportunities--each table offered a different topic. Several tables offering discussion on going independent and the future of STC were the adult version of musical chairs--if you didn't get there fast, you had to go somewhere else. Our April meeting will offer the same opportunity. Tables will be assigned discussion topics and you can learn or share you knowledge with others. Granted, the program doesn't answer the mentoring question, but maybe it's a start.
See you at the meeting!
April 2006